Apurva in Hinduism literally means that which was
non-existent earlier. It stands for the remote consequences of an act. The term
is generally restricted in actual usage to Vedic rituals only. It is of the
nature of punya (merit) or papa (sin).
The Vedas prescribe sacrificial duties which, when
performed, produce their results. For example, a person desirous of heaven is
ordained to perform the jyotisroma ritual. But the result is not obtained immediately
on its completion. Hence, applying the method of arthapatti (presumption),
Mimamsa concludes that a moral power should be assumed to have been generated
by the performance of the ritual, and that power lingers even after the ritual
is over, serving as a link between the act and the result.
Mimamsakas do not admit any divine agent like God on the ground
that one single homogenous cause, which God is, cannot account for the variety
of experiences of pleasure and pain.
Each individual is a unique moral agent and earns his moral
deserts.
Hence on has to postulate as many apurvas as there are
individuals. Besides, if God were said to distribute the rewards and reprisals,
He will be open to the charge of partiality and cruelty. And if the sacrificial
act does not produce the result by itself, there is no point in performing it.
The scripture, which enjoins it, will be rendered
meaningless.
Hence the potency of remote consequences of apurva
(actions). When the result is obtaine, the apurva is said to have fructified,
become phalapurva.